DANIEL CLARKE ARCHITECT INC.

Renovating your home in BC can trigger upgrades beyond the rooms you’re changing. Learn how existing zoning conditions, retention incentives and municipal permits affect what you can keep—and what to investigate before committing to a design.

Permission for additional dwellings does not, by itself, permit the configuration you have in mind. Before renovating your BC home, check how municipal rules, floor-area limits, servicing and site restrictions affect what and where you can build.

This custom single-family home with coach house for District of North Vancouver features modern Asian styling.

Don't solve today's problems in a way that requires more costly solutions in the future. The additional considerations presented here may cause you to re-evaluate your renovation concept to save headache and money in the future. Renovations tend to focus on fixing a current or impending problem or solving a need for the present or near future. The horizon may not take into account the long-term future which will present different needs. Usually, the renovation gives the hom

This custom single-family home with coach house for Burnaby with modern Asian styling.

This custom single-family home with coach house for Port Coquitlam with modern Asian styling.

Updated July 28, 2026 to include summaries; scroll down to Results Two duplexes on a single lot could be a way to achieve the reasonable profit on redeveloping a single-family lot, that everyone got into their heads when the SSMUH legislation was introduced. I'll show you how to take advantage of the SSMUH rules and to take advantage of everyone's familiarity with the duplex typology. More importantly, I'm going to point you toward the cities and lot types on which this con

This custom single-family home with secondary suite for Vancouver's west side blends Craftsman vernacular with modern Asian styling.

DCA15 fits two duplexes on one 33'x122' lot through simple massing, durable detailing, efficient construction, and livable interiors, while shared outdoor space and restrained materials help the project sit comfortably within its neighbourhood.

Learn how to resolve an unauthorized suite or unpermitted renovations before they drive buyers away, jeopardize insurance, derail future permits or expose a seller to costly claims after the sale of a BC home.

Heatwaves are becoming hotter, more frequent, and more dangerous, while air conditioning sized using historical climate data will eventually fall short. Houses and multiplexes can remain safer and more comfortable by reducing cooling demand through exterior shading, continuous insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows, and lower internal heat gains. Accessible safe zones, effective daylighting, and shaded outdoor spaces add further resilience.

This Burnaby triplex design responds to revised multiplex rules with efficient construction, generous floor plans and a carefully articulated form that remains durable, practical and neighbourhood-scaled.

When an old house obscures a property’s value, buyers see risk instead of opportunity. A focused redevelopment report clarifies plausible uses, site constraints, and future potential, helping the property make a stronger case.

Electrifying new homes – debunk 6 myths and explore 3 advantages, from cost and comfort to resilience and smarter energy use.

Power outages, high winds, wind-driven rain, and extreme snowfall expose weaknesses in conventional housing. This article explains practical design strategies—continuous exterior insulation, metal roofing, robust drainage, waterproofing, and tree planning—to protect multiplex homes and the families living in them.

Summary of the basic zoning regulations for developing a SSMUH / multiplex in Coquitlam

Lower build costs in BC with efficient layouts, repeatable details, simpler forms, and standardized materials—without sacrificing quality.

Rules for building SSMUH Multiplexes in Port Moody

These are the basic zoning requirements for what kind of SSMUH building you can construct in Burnaby BC.

Build smarter, not costlier. Discover how five key design shifts can make your Vancouver multiplex affordable, efficient, and lasting.